Learning Kabbala

See Dixie Yid: Learning Kabbala

Parshas Hamon

There is a well known segula for parnasa, to say Parshas Hamon, "shnayim mikra ve'eched targum" (2 times the posuk and 1 time the Targum Unkelos), on the Tuesday before Parshas Beshalach is read. The source of this custom is Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, one of the four primary disciples of the Noam Elimelech. Reb Sholom of Stropkov used to say this over in the name of the Rimanover. Reb Mendel of Rimanov expounded on Parshas Hamon for 22 years; many of these explanations are available in print. It is therefore understandable that he is the source of this minhag; if anyone really understood the meaning of Parshas Hamon, it was him.

The halachic works say that it is a good thing to read Parshas Hamon everyday. (Tur 1; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 1:5; Aruch Hashulchan 1:22; Shulchan Aruch HaRav 1:9). Shevet Mussar says that the segula of Parshas Hamon is when it's read "shnayim mikra ve'eched targum" and Siddur Segulas Yisroel says to say it with the cantillation. The common custom seems to be to read each posuk once, without cantillation, aside from the Tuesday of Beshalach.

Mishna Berura quotes the Yerushalmi in Brochos that says one who says Parshas Haman will not lack sustenance, and quoting the Taz says that reading it alone isn't sufficient, but one has to understand from the reading that our sustenance come about through Divine intervention. By reading the account of how Klal Yisroel was sustained by Hashem in the desert for 40 years, we ingrain in ourselves that our livelihood comes about only because Hashem wills it. So, if one reads Parshas Hamon religiously and despite this feels the need to cheat or lie to make a living, he did not learn anything from Parshas Hamon. It's not a magic incantation but an affirmation of Hashem being the "Hand that feeds us". (Remember the Kav Hayosher says that one who is honest in business is a complete tzadik.)

The great Mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Matisyahu Salomon shlita was asked how there are some people that daven so intensely and in their business they treat employees and associates in such a horrible manner. He answered that when these people say "Boreich Aleinu" in Shemonah Esrei, they are thinking: "Hashem, I'm a pretty smart guy and developed a successful business. Please don't interfere and mess things up." That is how these people who seem to daven so "ehrlich" in the morning go into their offices and treat everyone like trash; they think it's their smarts making the money and don't really believe that all is from Hashem.

The Orchos Tzadikim (Shaar HaAnavah) says that there are three reasons why Hashem gives people wealth: 1) As a reward. These are people that use their money for good causes and will nevert hurt others with their wealth.) 2) As a test. How will they handle the money? 3) As Nekamah (revenge). These are the people who are wealthy and take advantage and trample over those not as fortunate.) I believe that when we work and think that it's our own smarts that make us money that puts us in category 3 – a punishment, because if we don't realize that it's Hashem giving us the money we will probably not handle it correctly. When we acknowledge that all our livelihood comes from Hashem, such as by reciting Parshas Hamon, we can put ourselves into the category 1 – a reward, because by realizing that Hashem gives us whatever we have, we have a better chance of handling the money properly.

On the Tuesday of Parshas Beshalach, many people read it in middle of Chazoras Hashatz or other parts of davening. You will lose more than you gain by this. Parshas Hamon is a sort of extra credit, but listening to Chazaras Hashatz is required (this deserves a whole article by itself). Don't make a mistake of doing a segula at the expense of actual Halacha; following Halacha is the #1 segula for everything. And don't forget the main thing is the belief that no matter how smart it seems we are, every single penny is from Hashem.

Shovavim - Shmiras Einayim Review

As is known, Shovavim is a time of teshuvah, especially for Tikun Habris. This, of course, is related to Shmiras Einayim. Here are some previous posts on this subject. This is a great time to review this subject.

 

Shmiras Einayim - Thoughts, Stories and Segulas

 

A Simple Jew: Shmiras Einayim Forum

Yartzeit Website

There may not be any posts for a while due to a loaded schedule and traveling. If I can squeeze any in, I will. There are yartzeits posted here for almost the whole year, save for the next few weeks. To reference a date "search" the date in the search box. For dates not listed see here for a great site with yartzeits.

Finding One's Good Points

See Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum: Finding One's Good Points at A Simple Jew.

Importance of New Year Celebrations

Apter Rebbe's New Year  See how important the secular New Year is to Klal Yisroel.

Shovavim - Eating Suggestions

We are now in the days of Shovavim. (With the help of Hashem, I hope to have a more detailed posting in the near future.) Many of the Seforim mention the custom to fast many days in this period. For those of us that don't (and also for those that do), I would suggest that we at least try to make our eating a little more spiritual. Here are a few suggestions. Try to do at least one; every "little" thing counts.

 

1) There is a custom of some not to eat any animal products till nighttime or some don't eat any for a 24 hour period, once a week during Shovavim.

 

2) Review the laws pertaining to Netilas Yodaim, breaking the bread, brochos, Birchas Hamazon and other meal related issues.

 

3) Have in mind that when you say a brocha on the food or think of Torah while eating, you might be fixing neshomos that came back as gilgulim in the food. The Seforim Hakedoshim speak about the amazing tikkunim a simple person can accomplish by eating, especially if we have kavana in the brochos.

 

4) Rabbeinu Yona in Yesod Hateshuva says in the name of the Raavad that if one stops eating his meal while he is still a little hungry, for the sake of Hashem, then that is a very lofty thing. (It sounds easier than it is.)

 

5) Noam Elimelech in Tzetel Koton #15 says that when eating, have in mind the Hebrew word for food, מאכל, and that it equals 91, the numerical value of י־ה־ו־ה with א־ד־נ־י.

 

If you have any additional suggestions, please comment.

19-25 Teves Yartzeits

19 Teves - R' Aryeh Leib ben R' Yosef HaKohen Heller (1813) author of Ketzos Hachoshen, Avnei Miluim and Shev Shmaitsa. All very famous seforim on halacha.

19 Teves - R' Avrohom Shmuel Binyamin Sofer (1871) oldest son of R' Moshe, the Chasam Sofer

19 Teves - R' Menachem Mendel Zaks (1974), son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim

20 Teves - R' Moshe ben R' Maimon (1204) the Rambam

20 Teves - R' Yaakov ben R' Masoud Abuchatzeira (1880) Great mekubal and the grandfather of Baba Sali

21 Teves - R' Yisroel Dov Ber ben R' Yosef of Vilednik (1850), author of Shearis Yisroel, great tzadik and miracle worker, primary talimid of R' Mottel of Chernobyl, his kever in Vilendnik, Ukraine gets many visitors.
21 Teves - Rav Matzliach Mazuz of Djerba HY"D, author of Ish Matzliach (1971)

21 Teves - R' Yitzchok ben R' Abba Abuchatzeira (1991) Great-grandson of R' Yaakov Abuchatzeira

22 Teves - R' Sholom ben R' Mordechai Yosef Moshe Moskovitz, the Shotzer Rebbe of London. He promised to help anyone who comes to his kever and lights 3 candles(1958)
22 Teves - R' Shmuel Heller, Rav of Tzefas (1884)
22 Teves - R' Yehuda Leib ben R' Shlomo Eiger of Lublin (1888) grandsonof R' Akiva Eiger, talmid of the Kotzker and Izhbitza, author of Toras Emes and Imrei Emes

22 Teves - R' Avrohom Elchonon ben R' Dovid Shlomo Spector (1973) descendant of the Chozeh. Breslover Tzadik who knew the whole Shas, Medrash, Zohar and more by heart.

23 Teves - R' Refoel Yitzchok Zerachia Azulai (1765) father of the Chida
23 Teves - R' Mordechai Gifter (1991), Rosh Yeshiva of Telz

24 Teves - R' Naftali ben R' Yitzchok Hakohen Katz (1719, some have the date as 26 Teves), author of Semichas Chachomim and Rov of Ostraha and Frankfurt-on-Main. He is buried in Istanbul, where he died, en route to Eretz Yisroel. He was a descendant of the Maharal of Prague. R' Nachman of Breslov was one of his descendants
24 Teves - R' Shneur Zalman ben R' Boruch of Liadi (1813), first Lubavitcher Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch Harav
24 Teves - R' Shmuel Borenstein of Sochatchov (1926), the Shem MiShmuel son of ben R' Avrohom, the Avnei Nezer
24 Teves - R' Avraham Shmuel Binyamin ben R' MosheSofer, author of the Teshuvos Divrei Sofer (1948) descendant of the Chasam Sofer
24 Teves - R' Moshe Mordechai ben R' Shimon Noson Nota Biderman of Lelov (1987) Great tzadik from a family that was in Yerushalayim since 1850.

24 Teves - R' Yosef of Yampola (1812 some have the date as 20 Shvat) ben R' Yechiel Mechel of Zlotchov

24 Teves - R' Meir ben R' Yehuda Leib Greenwald (1852) Maharam Ash

25 Teves - R' Moshe Tzvi ben R' Shimon Shlomo Giterman of Savran (1837) was a talmid of R' Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev and R' Boruch of Mezibuz. He was a fierce opponent of R' Noson of Breslov, though interestingly his son, R' Shimon Shlomo was on good terms with the Breslover Chassidim.

25 Teves - Rav Eliyahu Eliezer ben R' Reuven Dov Dessler (1954), author of Michtav M'Eliyahu and Mashgiach in Gateshead and Ponovezh

25 Teves - Rav Moshe Tikochinsky, Mashgiach of Slabodka

Woman in Judaism - A New Book on the Subject

See Dixie Yid's posting about a new book, by a Rebbetzin, on the role of women in Judaism. It sounds fascinating.

Bnei Yisaschor

Chai Teves is the yartzeit of Reb Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (1783-1841) ben Reb Pesach, known to many as the "Bnei Yisaschor". When his mother was pregnant with him, her mother went to her illustrious brother, the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, to get a brocha. The Rebbe told her that she should name the baby, who will be a boy, Elimelech. She got scared thinking that this meant her brother will die, since the custom of European Jews is usually not to name after the living. The Rebbe said that instead they should call the baby Tzvi Elimelech; this put her at ease since it wasn't the exact same name. After the baby was named, the Rebbe told her that if the baby would have been named just "Elimelech", then the baby would have been "mamash" a "Melech", meaning exactly like himself. Now, he said, the boy would be half like him. He went on to become a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin and Reb Mendel of Rimanov. The Dinov, Munkatch, Bluzhev and Bertch dynasties descend from him.

 

Why Bnei Yisaschor?

Reb Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov used to feel a more than usual "high" when it came to Chanuka. He knew he wasn't from the family of the Chashmonoim, because he wasn't a Kohen. He decided to travel to the Chozeh of Lublin to inquire about this. As soon as he walked into the room of the Chozeh, the clairvoyant tzadik told him that he descends from the tribe of Yisaschor (Yissachor); the reason he feels such a high on Chanuka is because many of the judges in the court of the Chashmonoim were from the tribe of Yissachor. That's why he named his sefer on the Yomim Tovim, Bnei Yisaschor, and that answers our question why there is such an enormous amount written about Chanuka.

 

The Sefer 

Besides Sefer Bnei Yisaschor, Reb Tzvi Elimelech wrote many seforim on many different subjects; Chumash, Nach, Gemara, Mishnayos, Mitzvos, Kabbalah and more. They are all great works but Bnei Yisaschor is the most famous, quoted heavily by many Litvishe and Sephardishe Rabbonim. This sefer helps you get a feel as to the inner workings of every month of the year. Even for the month of Cheshvan, he gives you an understanding of what the month is about. You can go through the whole year, and instead of each day being "just another day", each day has real meaning, even if it isn't a Yom Tov.

 

When it comes to a Yom Tov, and you read what he has to say (at least part of it, as there is a huge amount on each Yom Tov) it gives you a whole new feeling and understanding as to what the Yom Tov is about and the reasons for many customs. This sefer really gives flavor to the calendar and he gives reasons why each Yom Tov falls out in a specific month. Bnei Yisaschor is definitely one of those seforim that helps one go through the seasons without doing everything by rote. I feel indebted to this great tzadik for making the Festivals of the year come alive, at least a bit more, for me. This and his other seforim are available in PDF form at HebrewBooks.org.

Dubno Magid Gives Mussar to the Vilna Gaon

17 Teves is the yartzeit of R' Yaakov ben Zev Wolf Kranz ZY"A(1804), the legendary Dubno Magid. He was once asked by R' Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna ZY"A, to give him mussar. The Dubno Magid refused, saying, who is he to give musar to the holy Vilna Gaon. The Gaon insisted until the Magid agreed. He said something along the lines of the following: "You get to sit all day indoors learning Torah and davening. What's so difficult about that? You don't have to spend time in the marketplaces with the tests of being honest in business and seeing things in the streets. How well would you fare there?" The holy Gaon broke down crying and said: "You're right. That would be more difficult."

 

The lesson from this is that if we do spend our time in the "outside" world and pass the many tests that we get, we are really accomplishing a huge amount in the spiritual realm. It's not just working anymore but Avodas HaKodesh.

R' Chaim Kreisworth - A Walking Shas

R' Chaim ben R' Avrohom Yosef Kreisworth ZY"A (2001) was one of the great Torah giants of recent times. 16 Teves is his yartzeit. Here is a small story to illustrate how our Torah Sages are so intamately familiar with the words of the Talmud.

 

Chacham Benzion Abba Shaul ZY"A and yblch't Chacham Ovadia Yosef Shlita once went to Belgium together. R' Kreisworth accompanied them back to the airport, for their return trip, and inquired as to the source of the name "Abba Shaul". Chacham Bentzion said that the name came from the Talmudic Sage by that name. Chacham Ovadia mentioned to R' Kresisworth that the first time Abba Shaul is mentioned in Shas is in Brochos at this and this place. R' Kreisworth responded with the second place where Abba Shaul is mentioned. Chacham Ovadia countered with the third place. This went on for some time. How did it come to an end? They were in the middle of Tractate Shabbos when Chacham Ovadia said that in a certain place Abba Shaul is mentioned next. R' Kreisworth responded that one of the meforshim (I think it was Tosafos but I don't remember) say that the Abba Shaul mentioned there is not the same one mentioned elsewhere in Shas. They had a good laugh and bid their farewells.

 

Think about the amout of time spent learning, and with what passion it must have been. Our great Torah leaders literally have Shas, Poskim, etc. on their fingertips. They literally know it the way most people know the names of their family members. So, the next time some mechutzif with a website wants to show how bright he is by "proving" that Gadol Ploni is incorrect in a ruling, think twice. If I may use the analogy, not just anybody can step into the ring with a heavyweight champ. May we be worthy of having great Torah leaders to guide us.

 

13-15 Teves Yartzeits

13 Teves - Rav Moshe ben R' Dovid of Lelov (1850) was the first Chassidishe Rebbe to settle in Yerushalyim. Previously they had settled in Tzfas. The Rizhiner told him that although many great tzadikim moved to Eretz Yisroel previously, their dynasties didn't survive, but Lelov would last till Moshiach comes. R' Moshe said that if he could make it to the Kosel Hamaravi then Moshiach would come. Unfortunately, he never made it there and passed away shortly after his arrival in Eretz Yisroel. He was the son-in-law of the Yid HaKodosh. The Lelover and Bostoner Rebbes are his descendants.
13 Teves - Rav Yitzchak ben R' Asher Anshel Hakohen Huberman, the tzaddik of
Ra'anana (1977)
13 Teves - Rav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, Rosh Yeshivas Lomza (1965)
13 Teves - R' Shraga Feivush ben R' Boruch Hager of Zelishitshick (1936)
13 Teves - R' Menachem Mendel ben R' Yisroel Hager of Vishiveh (1941) Rosh
Yeshiva of Vizhnitz
13 Teves - R' Tzvi Hersh (Shmelkes) of Ostroh (1789) ben R' Shmuel, talmid of the Baal Shem Tov. He was considered the greatest chosid in Ostrah, was a great mekubal and is the subject of many miraculous stories

14 Teves - R' Alter Elazar Menachem ben R' Moshe Mordechai Biderman of Lelov (2001) Beloved tzadik from Bnei Brak.
14 Teves - R' Reuven Dov Dessler (1935) father of R' Eliyahu Dessler
14 Teves - R' Tzvi Hirsh of Teplik (1928), Breslover Tzadik
14 Teves - R' Mordechai Twersky of Lavoi (1905)

14 Teves - R' Aryeh Moshe Eliyahu ben R' Shmuel Kaplan (1983) author of many seforim and translater of Meam Loez

15 Teves - Mesharshia bar Pakud, Amora
15 Teves - Rav Huna, Amora
15 Teves - Mari bar Mar Zutra, Amora
15 Teves - R' Chaim Mordechai ben R' Itamar Rosenbaum of Nadvorna (1978)

15 Teves - R' Noson Nota Natkin ben R' Asher (1887) was a grandson of the Shaagas Aryeh and son-in-law of R' Yosef Zundel of Salant. Although he lived most of his life in Yerushalayim, he is buried in NY at Union Field Cemetery, (near Rabbi Jacob Joseph) because he died while collecting money for the Yishuv in Eretz Yisroel.

15 Teves - R' Refoel of Barshad (1827) ben R' Yaakov Yukel was from the greatest talmidim of R' Pinchas Koritzer. The website Two Tzaddiks has lots of information on them.

Update from Uman

Rabbi Nassan Maimom updates A Simple Jew on the situation in Uman.

Likutei Tefilos

Reb Nachman of Breslov says (Likutei Mohoran II, 25) that it is very good to make prayers out of your Torah study. When one hears or studies Torah, he should ask Hashem to help him fulfill what he learned. Reb Nachman's leading student, Reb Noson Sternhartz, wrote Likutei Tefilos, based on this. He wrote numerous tefilos based on the teachings of Likutei Mohoran and Sichos HaRan. Besides the usual prayers for livelihood, health and children, there are tefilos for thing not usually seen. There are tefilos asking Hashem to help us observe Shabbos properly, for emunah, for help in tefila, for Moshiach, for finding "True Tzadikim", etc. The list goes on and on; prayers for every need. These tefilos are really beautiful; even if you only have a basic understanding of Hebrew, you can see this.

 

Reb Noson said that since the prayers of Likutei Tefilos are now available, one will have to give an accounting for every day that he didn't recite them. Reb Avrohom B'Reb Nachman Chazan said that these tefilos are higher than Ruach HaKodesh, because they come from the 50^th Gate of Kedusha. (Kochvei Ohr) Most of all, these tefilos are a way for us to daven to Hashem for thing we may not normally ask for outside of our required thrice daily prayers. This is a good day to start saying thes tefilos, on the yartzeit of the author, Reb Noson of Breslov.

 

Parts of Likutei Tefilos have been translated into English, and are available from Breslov Research Institute. You can see Likutei Tefilos online at the following links:

 

Likutei Tefilos online.

 

PDF of Likutei Tefilos arranged by subject.

Pittsburgher Rebbe Reveals the Loftiest Kavana of the Mikva

10 Teves is the 18th yartzeit of Reb Avrohom Abba Leifer ZY"A, the Pittsburgher Rebbe. His father, Reb Yosef, was a grandson, ben acher ben, of the legendary R' Mordechai of Nadvorna. R' Yosef lived in Pittsburgh for some time, hence the Pittsburgher Chassidus. Reb Avrohom Abba was Rebbe in Pittsburgh and New York before making aliyah to Eretz Yisroel and settling in Ashdod, where the chassidus is currently led by his son, Reb Mordechai Yissachor Ber shlita. Reb Avrohom Abba authored sefer Emunas Avrohom. I don't know a whole lot about him, but from one thing I heard in his name, I believe we can see the greatness of this tzadik.

In Uman, I heard Reb Lazer Brody speak and he said he heard from the Pittsburgher Rebbe the following: As is known, there are many different kabalistic meditations that one can have in the mikvah. The Pittsburgher Rebbe said that the greatest "kavana" one can have in the mikva, better then all the kabalistic meditations, is to think about the person standing outside the mikva because there is no room for him, waiting to go in. That is the greatest "kavana" of the mikva. Rav Brody added that the same applies by Reb Nachman's tzion. In the days around Rosh Hashona, there is a mob of people around the tzion of Reb Nachman 24 hours a day. It is relatively easy to get within a few feet of the tzion, but to actually get right up against it can take along time. Everyone wants an opportunity to be "mishtateiach" on the tzion. There is much pushing and jockeying for position, but once someone leans against the tzion, no one touches him. So, Rav Brody said, when you get to the tzion, spend a short amount of time and let the next one go. Even if you're not directly at the tzion, it's just as good, and by letting someone else have a turn, that is the best "kavana".

For someone who understood the loftiness of kabalistic meditations to make such a statement shows the great Ahavas Yisroel that the Pittsburgher Rebbe had. This is along the lines of what the Mesilas Yesharim speaks about in the chapter of "Mishkal Hachasidus" (chapter 20), which basically says not to be a "tzadik" on account of someone else. The Ramchal says that if "not doing" will do more to sanctify the Name of Hashem than "doing", then you must refrain from "doing". Don't mistake this with actual obligations which must be done no matter what. But, to try to better ourselves, by going beyond the law, on account of someone else is not "Chassidus". This small statement of the Pittsburgher Rebbe, speaks volumes about the tzadik, and is a lesson that can teach us all volumes. Zchuso Yogen Aleinu!

10-13 Teves Yartzeits

10 Teves - Zecharia ben Berachya ben Idu Hanavi
10 Teves - Malachi Hanavi, end of the era of prophecy (317 B.C.E.)
10 Teves - R' Nosson ben R' Naftali Hertz Sternhartz of Breslov (1844), the leading talmid of R' Nachman of Breslov, compiler and author of many seforim 

10 Teves - R' Raphael Wexelbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Itri
10 Teves - R' Avraham Abba ben R' Yosef Leifer (1989), Pittsburgher Rebbe, lived in Pittsburgh and New York before moving to Ashdod in Eretz Yisroel

11 Teves - R' Shlomo Eiger, author of Gilyon Maharsha (1852) son of R' Akiva Eiger
11 Teves - R' Yehoshua ben R' Meir Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Ateres Yeshua (1912)
11 Teves - R' Yaakov Yosef Shlomo ben R' Chaim Dov Halperin of Vasoloi-Tel Aviv (1984) descendant of R' Yisroel of Ruzhin

12 Teves - R' Moshe Margulies, author of Pnei Moshe on Talmud Yerushalmi (1781) Rebbe of the Vilna Gaon

12 Teves - R' Moshe Halevi "Sofer" of Peshvarsk (1805) Talmid of the Magid of Mezritch
12 Teves - R' Mordechai Chaim ben R' Yehuda Leib Kastelanitz of Slonim (1953) was one of the closest of the talmidim of the Slonimer Rebbes

 

Reb Noson of Breslov

Rabbi Lazer Brody at Reb Noson's Tzion

(photo courtesy of Emuna Outreach)

10 Teves, Asarah B’Teves, is the yartzeit of Reb Noson ben R’ Naftali Hertz Sternhartz ZY”A, the leading talmid of Reb Nachman of Breslov ZY”A. Here are several beautiful articles have been put together in honor of his yartzeit:

Rebbe Natan’s Yahrtzeit – 3 Articles

Rabbi Lazer Brody: My Hero - Rebbe Natan of Breslov

Tenth of Teves - A Major Fast Day

The Abudraham says that if the fast of 10 Teves, Asarah B'Teves, would fall out on Shabbos, we would still fast, just like by Yom Kippur. (According to the way our calendar is presently set up this can't occur.) Why by this fast, specifically, does it say we need to fast? Asarah B'Teves, after all, is always thought of as a very "minor" fast. After reading what the Bnei Yisaschor (Kislev Teves, 14) says about this, my whole outlook on this "minor" fast day changed, and I hope it will have more meaning this year.

 

In Gemara Taanis 29a there is a discussion why the fast of Av is on the ninth of the month, when the burning of the Beis Hamikdash started; it should be on the tenth, when most of the burning took place? The reason we do fast on the ninth is that the beginning of the destruction is what counts more. Similarly, says the Bnei Yisaschor, the tenth of  was the beginning of the siege on Yerusholayim that culminated in the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash on Tisha B'Av three years later. Therefore, this fast day is actually very important and we would actually fast on Shabbos if it would fall out then. Furthermore, the month of Teves is connected to Shevet Dan, who were the ones involved with the avodah zora of Pesel Micha. (see Shoftim 18)

 

One final thought. Asara B'Teves is the fast day with the least amount of daytime; consequently, it has the most hours of darkness. Tisha B'Av and Shiva Asar B'Tamuz have the smallest amount of night hours, but the most amount of daytime. As is known, "night" represents golus; "day" represents geulah. Asarah B'Teves, has the most "nighttime", indicating that there was much destruction to come. In the fasts of Tamuz and Av, when the actual destruction took place, Hashem was indicating to us that there is less "darkness" and more "daylight", a positive sign to us of the ultimate redemption, which will be a time of light. May it happen speedily in our days. Amen!

6-9 Teves Yartzeits

6 Teves - R' Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam of Shiniva (1895) ben R' Chaim of Sanz, author of Divrei Yechezkel
6 Teves - R' Yaakov Reischer, author of Chok Yaakov and Shvus Yaakov

7 Teves - R' Moshe Dovid Vally, talmid of the Ramchal, who wrote a Kabalistic peirush on Tanach

7 Teves - R' Boruch of Kaminka, talmid of the Baal Shem Tov
7 Teves - R' Tzvi of Mezhibuz-Pinsk (1779) ben R' Yisroel Baal Shem Tov
7 Teves - R' Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izhbitza (1878) ben R' Yaakov

 

8 Teves - R' Yechezkel HaLevi Halshtuk HY"D of Ostrovtza (1942) ben R' Yechiel Meir (some have the date as 10 Teves)

8 Teves - R' Shmuel Hellman (1765) was the Rov of Metz, France

9 Teves - Ezra Hasofer (320 B.C.E.)
9 Teves - Nechemia ben Chachilya (372 B.C.E.)

9 Teves - R' Yehosef HaLevy (1067) ben R' Shmuel HaNagid
9 Teves - R' Ezra (1227), one of the Baalei Tosefos and Rebbe of the Ramban

9 Teves - R' Avrohom Chaim Shur (1632) author of Tzon Kedoshim